COLLABORATIVE CLEANUPS: Achieving Cleanup, Restoration and Revitalization with Communities

One Cleanup ProgramEPA faces challenging area-wide contamination problems caused by multiple sources and sites, such as regional ground water contamination; polluted rivers, estuaries, and watersheds; historic, un-reclaimed mining regions; and under-utilized or abandoned urban and industrial centers. These large scale, area-wide contamination problems cannot easily be solved using a single program or authority. EPA managers are using collaborative and coordinated, multi-program approaches to tackle these complex issues.

The One Cleanup Program (OCP) is EPA’s vision for how different cleanup programs at all levels of government can work together to ensure that resources, activities, and results are effectively coordinated, implemented, and communicated to the public. As part of the One Cleanup Program initiative, EPA Regions

and states identified projects that highlight successful cross-program management ideas for area-wide contamination problems. These projects promote effective cross-program coordination, cleanup approaches, planning, community benefits, and ideas about cleanup and revitalization for area-wide contamination problems. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/oswer/onecleanupprogram/.

Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative A central element in the American urban landscape, urban rivers have provided power, avenues for shipping and commerce, and recreational opportunities. They also carry the legacy of our industrial history, which has left behind contaminated sediments, degraded water quality, and lost habitat. The challenges associated with assessing risk and cleaning up contaminated rivers are often exacerbated by

the existence of multiple cleanup authorities and competing requirements.

In July 2002, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to address these challenges and facilitate cooperation for environmental remediation; the restoration of degraded rivers; and the protection of public health, economic sustainability and community vitality. The two agencies, in concert with state partners, designated eight demonstration pilot projects to coordinate the planning and implementation of urban river cleanup and restoration as part of the Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative (URRI). For more information, visit www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/urbanrivers/.

Sediment capping at the Anacostia River Watershed in the District of Columbia.

The Lefthand Creek Watershed in Colorado.

The Bryan Dairy at the Cross Bayou Watershed in Florida.

Volunteers clean up at the Elizabeth River Project, part of Virginia’s Elizabeth River Restoration Pilot.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is promoting collaborative cleanup activities that better coordinate the implementation of land cleanup and water protection authorities, promote sustainable management approaches, and bring the know-how, energy, and strengths of many different stakeholders to the table. The Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative and the One Cleanup Program pilot projects are real world testing grounds for these environmental management approaches. This fact sheet provides a general overview of and Web links to collaborative cleanup activities for use by communities and agencies that face similar cleanup and revitalization challenges.

To learn about the Collaborative Cleanup meeting series please contact EPA at collaborativecleanups@sra.com or go to the EPA land revitalization home page at www.epa.gov/landrevitalization.

Moving ForwardIn early 2007, EPA will issue a Lessons Learned report to share the experiences, strengths, and challenges faced by the URRI and OCP pilots. The report will be available at: www.epa.gov/landrevitalization.

United States Environmental Protection AgencyOffi ce of Solid Waste and Emergency Response EPA-500-F-06-002

November 2006www.epa.gov/landrevitalization

Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative (URRI) PilotsThe Blackstone-Woonasquatucket River Pilot (Rhode Island and Massachusetts) targets key geographic and economic areas in these watersheds for cleanup, restoration, reuse and revitalization.www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/download/factsheet_blackstone.pdf

The Lower Passaic River Remediation and Ecosystem Restoration Pilot (New Jersey) focuses on remediation of the contaminated sediments and restoration of the natural habitat on the Lower Passaic River, a 173-square mile watershed covering a highly developed industrial area. www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/download/factsheet_Passaic.pdf

The Gowanus Canal and Bay Ecosystem Restoration Pilot (New York) aims to demonstrate that remediation of contaminated sediments in degraded urban rivers will improve water quality, restore degraded habitat, promote economic revitalization, renew public use of natural resources, and increase recreational enjoyment.www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/download/factsheet_Gowanus.pdf

The Elizabeth River Restoration Pilot (Virginia) focuses on legacy industrial pollution and supports the Elizabeth River Project effort to motivate property owners along the river to make voluntary improvements which allow wildlife and aquatic life to coexist with businesses.www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/download/factsheet_elizabeth.pdf

The Anacostia River Watershed Restoration Pilot (District of Columbia and Maryland) focuses on achieving pollution reductions, ecological restoration, and public stewardship of the Anacostia watershed.www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/download/factsheet_anacostia.pdf

The Fourche Creek Pilot (Arkansas) attempts to improve water quality, restore wetland functions, and emphasize educational operations and awareness. www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/download/factsheet_fourche.pdf

The City Creek/Gateway District Pilot (Utah) seeks to restore City Creek, an urban river in the center of Salt Lake City, encased below city streets.www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/download/factsheet_citycreek.pdf

The Tres Rios Pilot (Arizona) focuses on the characterization and possible pollution mitigation and remediation of the 123rd Avenue Landfill located in the Gila Riverbed west of Phoenix.www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/download/factsheet_tres_rios.pdf

One Cleanup Program (OCP) Area-Wide PilotsThe following is a summary of selected OCP Area-Wide Pilots. Additional information on the OCP Initiative can be found at www.epa.gov/oswer/onecleanupprogram/docs/OCPFactSheet.pdf.

The Tanner Street Initiative Area-Wide Pilot (Massachusetts) focuses on a cluster of sites that are being addressed under multiple authorities in a heavily industrialized section of Lowell.

The Little Elk Creek Pilot (Maryland) is developing a collaborative, cross-programmatic approach to address a ground water contamination problem and support development and reuse needs of the surrounding community. www.epa.gov/region03/revitalization/little_elk_creek/ElkCreekRevisedActionPlan.pdf

The Cross Bayou Watershed Pilot (Florida) focuses on the Cross Bayou Watershed in Pinellas County. The multi-stakeholder effort focuses on developing a Watershed Management Plan for the 10.5 mile long Cross Bayou Canal.

The City of Dayton, Ohio One Cleanup Pilot (Ohio) focuses on the cleanup and green redevelopment of a former General Motors property, to play a key part in Dayton’s plan for revitalizing the downtown riverfront area.

The Oklahoma City (OKC) One Cleanup Pilot (Oklahoma) focuses on a five square mile area of Eastside Oklahoma City to overcome environmental issues while enhancing OKC’s ongoing efforts at Eastside economic rebirth.

The Lefthand Creek Watershed Cross-programmatic Assessment and Remediation Pilot (Colorado) focuses on conducting a cross-programmatic assessment and cleanup in a mining impacted watershed. www.epa.gov/region8/land_waste/revitalization/lefthandonecleanup.pdf

The Mountain View Area-Wide Pilot (California) focuses on effective communication with the community surrounding three adjacent waste cleanup sites that form a cluster of sites in “Silicon Valley.”www.epa.gov/Region9/annualreport/04/land.html

The Eastern Michaud Flats Pilot (Idaho) seeks to develop a detailed scope of work for a Master Plan for Reuse that will use a streamlined formal stakeholder involvement process for redevelopment.